Pig Feeding

Proper feeding ration together with the microclimate of the room are the main factors ensuring animal health, their survival after birth and live weight gain. The rate of growth of these animals and the quality of the meat obtained from them depend on their diet. Although pigs are considered omnivores, not all feeds are equally fully digested and absorbed by them. Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness of livestock business, it is necessary to properly compose the ration.

Types of Feed

On pig farms, several types of animal feeding are practiced. Each has its own advantages.

1. Dry feed. This is concentrated food, compound feed, which includes the necessary amount of proteins and carbohydrates, as well as vitamin and mineral additives. A more expensive option, but with high digestibility. Dry feed is easy to dose automatically, has a long storage life. This is the most hygienic option: the pigpen is always dry, clean, no unpleasant odor and outbreaks of infection.
2. Wet feed. This is a mixture or mash prepared from food industry by-products. It also includes tubers, grains, greens. A cheaper option compared to dry feed, but it is not storable. Moreover, it requires frequent cleaning of feeders and premises, as the liquid feed scattered in the pigpen increases humidity.
3. Moist feed. This is something between dry and wet feed, when dry concentrated food is moistened before distribution for better absorption by animals.

Special equipment is used on farms to feed animals: automatic and bunker feeders, dosers. It is also important to pay attention to the drinking of pigs, for this purpose nipple and bowl drinkers for pigs (learn more on the site).

Feeding Ration and Norms for Pigs

The amount of food and its composition depend on the age of the animal. Here, the norms of mineral and vitamin consumption are taken into account, but the most important parameter is digestible protein.

1. For piglets, the recommended dosage of compound feed is 200 g. Grain crops of fine grind are used with milk and fish oil additives, after 20 days with vegetables or greens in mashed form.
2. For fattening piglets, the protein norm at a weight of 5-20 kg is 138.8 g, and as the weight increases, it decreases to 120.6 g when piglets reach 30-40 kg. Converted into compound feed, this amounts to 600 g to 3 kg. Their ration should include high-protein additives.
3. The feeding conditions for adult pigs are different. For them, the intake of 90.18 g of protein at a weight of 70-120 kg or 6 kg of compound feed is sufficient. Liquid feed dosage increases in their ration.
4. For boars, it is necessary to provide 100 g of protein per day. The calculation is based on the live weight of the animal, which is 1.5 kg of dry feed. Good results are achieved by adding backwash, grass flour, salt to dry feed.
5. For sows, the protein norm is 100 g or 5 kg of compound feed per day. During gestation, it is important to ensure a large amount of fiber, and during lactation, sows will benefit from high-nutrient compound feed.

To ensure that animals are well-fed, gain weight, and have high productivity, their ration must be balanced and appropriate for their age and physiological state. Organizing feeding in compliance with hygiene norms in the premises can be achieved by using dry feed.